Goal of a strategy workshop
The goal is a ranked set of strategic priorities, agreed decision criteria, and owners and timelines for the top initiatives.
Before the workshop
- Share context and any data in advance
- Keep the group small enough to decide
- Agree that criteria come before scoring
Strategy workshop agenda (3 hours)
- 0:00–0:20
Context framing
Align on the strategic question and scope.
- 0:20–0:50
Option mapping
Surface and group available options.
- 0:50–1:10
Criteria definition
Agree criteria before scoring.
- 1:10–1:25
Break
- 1:25–2:00
Scoring and trade-offs
Score options and discuss trade-offs.
- 2:00–2:35
Prioritization
Rank initiatives and handle objections.
- 2:35–3:00
Commitment round
Assign owners, timelines and next check-in.
Common mistakes
- Confusing opinions for criteria
- Scoring before criteria are set
- Dominant voices biasing the ranking
- Leaving without owners or timelines
After the workshop
Send a follow-up with the priorities, decision criteria, ranked options, owners and timelines. Schedule a check-in to confirm progress.
Key takeaway
A strategy workshop succeeds when it ends with ranked priorities, agreed criteria and owners — not just a lively discussion.